Reviews in 3 Sentences

Smith College is a well-rounded, academic and exciting college, that allows Smithies to explore and cultivate their interests while opening doors to the work world. Smithies are driven, enthusiastic students,…

An educationally demanding college which continually challenges students to excel. Plenty of student resources for those feeling overwhelmed (commonly experienced among students). Many opportunities for collaborations, internships, and…

Mission Statement

Smith College educates women of promise for lives of distinction. A college of and for the world, Smith links the power of the liberal arts to excellence in research and scholarship, developing leaders for society's challenges.

Reviews

Student Responses to Review Topic: Am I Enjoying Being Here

I really enjoy Smith academically and find it is the perfect fit for me. Socially I wish that there was a little more happening on the weekends. Most of Smith parties consist of dancing in the dark. There are movie nights and other activities but I wish there was more variety.

I really think college is what you make out of it. You can be depressed all the time because you're far from home and you don't have your old high school buddies. Or, you can look at the bright side and enjoy the amazing things that are happening at this school. Northampton is a small, quirky, interesting town. There isn't much to do, but you can always find a place to eat or a few cafes. There's also an urban outfitters and CVS nearby, but that's about it, unless you like hippy clothing or items. Faces is also a cool shop to visit when you are in Northampton. It's a good place to buy posters or other furniture items. One thing that I really enjoyed was Smith To Do every Friday. Every Friday, there is a craft room where you can make something. It's different each Friday. Once I made a scarf and another time I learned how to make origami. It's also a good time to socialize and just relax from a long week. The pond is also a good place to visit or the Botanic Garden. This is a place where you can relax, or you can go kayaking with your friends. Another thing is Friday Tea. This is awesome! We have tea, cookies, and other sweets along with cheese every Friday. It's a good time to relax and get to know your housemates. I didn't have the chance to go to a lot of parties at Smith, but I did go to some. They aren't amazing and if you're going just to see boys, it may not be the best idea since they are mostly shady, but it's fun if you're going to dance with your girls. They have a lot of fun themes as well that you can dress up for. Each houses have cute events as well such as First Year Prom, Senior Banquet, etc. Overall, I really enjoy being here. I thought that I would miss having boys around, and I slightly do, but it doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would!

I personally am not enjoying my overall experience. As someone who is politically conservative, not from the Northeast, a proud Christian, and who has a lot of guy friends, Smith is too much of a change for me, and not in a good way. Although I am very happy with the academics, I find that perhaps there is too much freedom and choice for an indecisive person like myself. I don't feel comfortable as a conservative on campus, or as a Christian in most circumstances. I have gotten used to the female environment but very often I find myself wanting to get away from all the estrogen. I'm from the Midwest and being in New England is neither as exciting or as pleasant as I had imagined it to be. The Northampton area is extremely hippie and bohemian, which some people really like, bust most days I just wish I could walk to Walmart or go home every once in a while. Please don't judge Smith on my personal experience however...but remember that Smith is a very unique experience that is not for everyone, even though the great majority of students I have met here are wonderful people in love with the school.

The housing system is amazing! The friends that I have made through my house mean more to me than anything. I have been out of school for almost 2 years now, and still keep in close contact with my housemates. You build connections here that really last.

In the sake of full disclosure, I just really love Smith (and, no, I don't work in the admissions office, so I'm being completely honest here). The campus has a great sense of community. Most people here are pretty friendly, open, and have a variety of interests. You live in a house instead of a dormitory, and the size and style of each house varies, but most houses have a distinct sense of community and special traditions. (For example, my house is on the smaller side with about 70 residents, and we like to do things such as bake in our kitchen, watch certain TV shows in the living room, go apple-picking on Mountain Day, etc.). There's also a lot of different dining options, so if you're a vegetarian, vegan, or just don't like monotony, there's bound to be something on campus you can eat. In terms of student organizations, there are quite a few. If there isn't one that matches your hobby, interest, or cause, you can write up a charter and form a new one. There's a really nice athletic center (all the exercise machines are specifically designed to be comfortable for women!) and also a variety of club and varsity sports, and occasional intramurals where houses form teams and compete against each other (like dodgeball, soccer, and basketball). And, if you get bored on campus, you can always walk downtown to Northampton (aka NoHo) and window-shop, or visit Forbes Library (which is not part of the school), or take the bus to another 5-College School. No school is perfect, but if you're willing to put yourself out there, try something new, meet some new people, and make the most out of what's available, it can be a really fun place to be.

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